The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Conflict posts > Iraqi Freedom

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-11-2005, 01:21 PM
David's Avatar
David David is offline
Administrator
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 46,798
Distinctions
Special Projects VOM Staff Contributor 
Default Abu Ghraib Prisoner Testifies

AP


A Syrian inmate at Abu Ghraib said Army Spc. Charles Graner Jr. was the Baghdad prison's primary torturer who laughed while physically abusing him and threatened to kill him more than once.

Amin al-Sheikh, testifying via videotaped deposition shown in court Tuesday, said Graner also made him eat pork and drink alcohol, in violation of his Muslim faith, and that he listened through his cell wall while Graner and other Americans forced a Yemeni prisoner eat from a toilet.

Graner is the first soldier accused in the Abu Ghraib scandal to go on trial, and prosecutors allege he was the ringleader of the abuse. Three guards from the 372nd Military Police Company have pleaded guilty to abusing detainees.

Asked if Graner appeared to enjoy hurting him, al-Sheikh said through an interpreter: "He was laughing... He laughed. He was whistling. He was singing."

Graner, a reservist, is charged with conspiracy to maltreat detainees, two counts of assault, dereliction of duty and committing indecent acts. He faces up to 17? years in a military prison if the jury of four Army officers and six enlisted men convict him on all counts. Testimony began Monday.

Al-Sheikh said he went to Iraq in 2003 to fight U.S.-led forces, and he was taken to Abu Ghraib after being captured with AK-47 assault rifles, grenades and bomb-making material.

While being kept at a tent camp next to Abu Ghraib, al-Sheikh said, he was wounded in the leg and chest in a shootout with Americans after he obtained a handgun from an Iraqi guard because he feared for his life.

He said Graner, whom he described as the "primary torturer," jumped on his injured leg and struck it with a collapsible stick. That is the basis for one of the assault charges. On another occasion, he said, Graner handcuffed him to his cell door with his arms behind his back for eight hours.

Graner also on different occasions accompanied a U.S. soldier who urinated on him, al-Sheikh said. Another American threatened to rape him, he said.

Under defense questioning, al-Sheikh said Graner at times worked with Americans who were interrogating him at Abu Ghraib.

The defense maintains that Graner and other soldiers were ordered by military and civilian intelligence officers to soften up detainees for questioning, and that they had no choice but to obey.

Al-Sheikh said interrogators known as "Steve" and "Mikey" made it clear that he would be roughed up by Graner if he did not cooperate.

Al-Sheikh conceded that he did not see Graner and others making the Yemeni prisoner eat from the toilet, but he said it was clear that was happening from what he heard.

Another videotaped deposition from Iraq was expected before prosecutors wrapped up their case Tuesday afternoon. The defense would then start with its witnesses.
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Escaped Prisoner SparrowHawk62 General Posts 0 05-12-2004 05:44 AM
Prisoner Abuse ( my ass ) reeb General Posts 2 05-11-2004 04:39 PM
Marine's lover testifies at hearing on grenade attack thedrifter Marines 1 08-02-2003 12:03 AM
Filipina testifies to Major's innocence thedrifter Marines 2 05-28-2003 09:55 PM
Prisoner of War Information David Korea 0 04-17-2002 03:31 PM

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.